Aug. 24 - U.S. military and national security advisers met with President Barack Obama at the White House to consider options for responding to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government this week. Sarah Irwin reports.

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President Barack Obama meets with his national security team - to discuss options on Syria.
The meeting comes days after reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in an attack on a Damascus suburb.
According to a White House official, the U.S. is gathering information to try to confirm whether the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did use chemical weapons.
So far, Obama has been reluctant to intervene in Syria's now two and a half year long civil war.
While traveling to Asia, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters the president had asked for a range of options on Syria - which lead to the deployment of the guided missile destroyer - the U.S.S. Mahan - to the Mediterranean Sea.
The expanded naval presence - gives the president an option for an armed strike on Syria - but officials continue to stress Obama has made no decision on any military action.

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